Killing a man in defense of an idea is not defending an idea; it is killing a man.
Through most of my career, I've made a decent living making movies no one wants to see.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the irony of creating art that may not be commercially successful, yet still brings fulfillment to the creator.
Jean-Luc Godard's quote reflects the struggle and dedication of artists who produce films that may not resonate with mainstream audiences. It underscores the notion that creating art is not solely about financial success, but also about personal expression and passion. Godard's acknowledgment of this reality speaks to the complicated relationship between art, popularity, and the fulfillment an artist derives from their craft, regardless of public reception.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about independent filmmaking, this quote might illustrate the often overlooked passion behind less mainstream projects.
More from Jean-Luc Godard
All quotes βI don't think you should feel about a film. You should feel about a woman, not a movie. You can't kiss a movie.
Sometime reality is too complex. Stories give it form.
More or less, I am always saying, 'Give me more. Let's do what has not been done.'
Objects exist and if one pays more attention to them than to people, it is precisely because they exist more than the people. Dead objects are still alive. Living people are often already dead.
Cinema is not a series of abstract ideas, but rather the phrasing of moments.
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To feel beauty is a better thing than to understand how we come to feel it. To have imagination and taste, to love the best, to be carried by the contemplation of nature to a vivid faith in the ideal, all this is more, a great deal more, than any science can hope to be.
Billy Collins writes lovely poems. Limpid, gently and consistently startling, more serious than they seem, they describe all the worlds that are and were and some others besides.
Overall, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give to the listener the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe... That's what I would like to do. I think that's one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we all try to do that in some way. The musician's is through his music.